About Carisa

Carisa Cunningham is a long-time non-profit communications professional specializing in legal and legislative advocacy, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice, reform, and public health.

As director of public affairs for GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)from 2004-2016, she used research-backed, story-based communications to fuel the drive to nationwide marriage equality. She has also directed communication in-house for AIDS Action Council, Wheelock College, and AIDS Action Committee. Working in public relations for Gay Mens Health Crisis at the height of the American AIDS epidemic in the 1980s was personally, politically, and professionally transformative.

As a consultant, her social justice portfolio to include voting rights, criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ rights and the environment. She’s helped local and national non-profits tell their stories to pass legislation, influence public opinion, win court cases, and raise money.

At home in Boston, Carisa sees as much live performance as she can, spends time playing board games with family and friends, cooks and thinks a lot about food, and lies on the couch reading.